Thermal Energy and Heat Transfer

Front

What is thermal energy?

Back

Thermal energy is the total kinetic energy of the particles in an object, which is related to its temperature.

Front

What is heat transfer?

Back

Heat transfer is the movement of thermal energy from one object or substance to another due to a temperature difference.

Front

What are the three methods of heat transfer?

Back

The three methods of heat transfer are conduction, convection, and radiation.

Front

Define conduction.

Back

Conduction is the transfer of heat through a solid material without the movement of the material itself, typically occurring in metals.

Front

Define convection.

Back

Convection is the transfer of heat through fluids (liquids and gases) caused by the movement of the fluid itself.

Front

Define radiation.

Back

Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation, and does not require a medium.

Front

What happens to thermal energy when a hot object cools down?

Back

Thermal energy in the hot object is transferred to the surrounding cooler environment.

Front

What is temperature?

Back

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object.

Front

How does heat transfer occur between two objects?

Back

Heat transfer occurs from the warmer object to the cooler object until thermal equilibrium is reached.

Front

What is thermal equilibrium?

Back

Thermal equilibrium is the state in which two objects in contact with each other reach the same temperature and no heat flows between them.